Hull sides for metal boat



Jan. 17, 1967 P. B. JUHNKE HULL SIDES FOR METAL BOAT Filed 001;. 23, 1965 4 r if? \NVELNTOR PquL 6 Junmfla ATTORNEY 3,298,343 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 3,298,343 HULL SIDES FOR METAL BOAT Paul B. Juhnke, Rte. 3, Box 86, Mukwonago, Wis. 53149 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,523 6 Claims. (Cl. 114-56) This invention pertains to relatively small boats such as pleasure boats made of aluminum and is particularly concerned with the integral construction of the sides of the hull of such boats.

It is economical and desirable to make the hulls of such boats from sheet aluminum. However this usually presents manufacturing problems and requires expensive forms and dies to form the conventional planning-type hull.

It is the object of this invention to provide sides for the hull of such a boat which may be formed by using conventional dies and bending brakes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hull for such a boat which has: better looking lines and neat appearance; greater strength; increased safety, and low construction cost.

These objects are accomplished by forming each side of the hull of the boat from a single sheet of aluminum which extends for the entire length of the boat. Such sheet is first cut to the proper outline while in fiat condition to provide a bow section and a side section. The bends herein described extend from the rear end of the bow section to the stern. A first bend along a straight line forms an outer chine which defines with the lower edge of the cut sheet an upwardly and outwardly sloping bottom portion. A second bend along a straight line defines with the first bend a vertical side portion. A third bend along a straight line defines with the second bend an inwardly and upwardly sloping side portion. A fourth bend along a straight line defines with the third bend a horizontal deck portion and with the upper edge of the cut sheet a depending flange. As viewed in crosssection the single sheet so formed is similar to a half round or channel section which extends along the length of the boat from stern to the bow section to provide excellent strength and rigidity. The inwardly and upwardly sloping side portion provides a streamlined and balanced appearance while still providing the same elfective free board as would a straight extension of the vertical side.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in or be apparent from the specification and claims, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the hull of a boat having sides constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hull of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, the hull of the small pleasure boat there shown is made of sheet aluminum which is precut to shape for each of the various parts of the hull. Such parts are: a bottom a port side indicated generally at 12; a starboard side indicated generally at 14; a transom 16; and a forward deck 18. That section of the boat covered by such forward deck will be referred to herein as the bow section 20. With the exception of the sides 12 and 14, the other parts of the hull are of a well-known shape and construction and will not be further described. The abutting edges of the above parts are seam welded in accordance with well-known practices. The interior of the bottom may be provided with strengthening ribs of aluminum (not shown) if in certain sizes of bulls this seems necessary.

The unique features of this invention reside in the construction and forming of the port and starboard sides 12 and 14. Since they are identical except for one being left hand and one right hand only the starboard side 14 has reference numerals applied and will be described in detail. The side 14 is precut while in flat sheet condition using a pattern which will provide a bottom edge 17, a top edge 19, and the bow section 20 shaped as shown in FIG. 1. This bow section is later curved to the prow shape shown in FIG. 2.

The following bends along straight lines extend from the read end of the bow section 20 to the stern or transom 16 '-and are formed by placing the fiat precut aluminum sheet in a standard brake and bending it to the angles shown in the drawing. The first bend spaced upwardly from the bottomedge 17 of the sheet forms an outer chine 22. This chine defines with such edge an upwardly and outwardly sloping bottom portion 24. When the-edge 17 is welded to the bottom 10 there is formed an inner chine also designated 17. The chines 17 and 22 run together at the rear end of the bow section 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The sheet is again bent to provide a bend 28. The bend 28 defines with the chine 22 a vertical side portion 30. A third bend 32 defines with the bend 28 an upwardly inwardly sloping side portion 34. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the bends 28 and 32 run together at the rear end of the bow section 20. The sloping side portion 34 provides the same effective free board as would be provided by a vertical extension of the vertical side portion 30 to the same height. Thus the same safety factor is maintained while obtaining a neat appearance. A fourth bend 36 defines with the bend 32 a horizontal deck portion 38 and with the top edge 19 a depending flange 40.

As viewed in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the sides bent as above described form a half round or channel section extending from the bow section 20 to the transom 16 to make a strong rigid hull. Because all the bends are along straight lines the sides may be formed on inexpensive standard bending brakes without the necessity of expensive forming dies. In addition to this, the converging bends and sloping side portions create a pleasing, neat and streamlined appearance.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A side with top and bottom edges for a hull formed from a single sheet of aluminum having,

a first bend along a straight line spaced upwardly from said bottom edge creating an outer chine which defines with said bottom edge an inwardly and downwardly sloping bottom portion,

a second bend along a straight line spaced upwardly of said chine defining therewith a vertical side portion, and

a sloping side portion extending from said second bend toward said top edge and inclined upwardly and inwardly whereby said side has a half-round like section providing strength and rigidity.

2. A side as claimed in claim 1 in which there is,

a third bend along a straight line at the top of said sloping side portion, and

a horizontal deck portion extending inwardly from said third bend.

3. A side as claimed in claim 2 in which there is,

a depending flange on the inner edge of said deck portion.

4. In a side for a hull formed from a single sheet of aluminum, said side being precut to have a top edge, a bottom edge, a bow section, and a rear end:

a plurality of bends along straight lines extending from the rear of said bow section to said read end;

a first bend above said bottom edge joining said bottom edge at the rear of said bow section and defining with said bottom edge a downwardly and inwardly sloping bottom portion;

a second bend above said first bend defining therewith a vertical side portion; and

a third bend above said second bend joining said second bend at the rear of said bow section and defining with said second bend an upwardly and inwardly inclined side portion extending toward said top edge.

5. In a side as defined in claim 4:

a fourth bend spaced from said third bend and defining a horizontal deck portion.

6. In a side as defined in claim 5:

a depending flange between said fourth bend and said top edge.

No references cited.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. A. H. FARRELL, Examiner. 

1. A SIDE WITH TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES FOR A HULL FORMED FROM A SINGLE SHEET OF ALUMINUM HAVING, A FIRST BEND ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE SPACED UPWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM EDGE CREATING AN OUTER CHINE WHICH DEFINES WITH SAID BOTTOM EDGE AN INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY SLOPING BOTTOM PORTION, A SECOND BEND ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE SPACED UPWARDLY OF SAID CHINE DEFINING THEREWITH A VERTICAL SIDE PORTION, AND A SLOPING SIDE PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID SECOND BEND TOWARD SAID TOP EDGE AND INCLINED UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY WHEREBY SAID SIDE HAS A HALF-ROUND LIKE SECTION PROVIDING STRENGTH AND RIGIDITY. 